Union City Radio

In response to President Trump’s abrupt firing of FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday, American Federation of Government Employees president J. David Cox Senior said that “Now more than ever, we must uphold the principle that there be strong safeguards protecting the civil service from politically motivated firing.”Cox noted that “a strong, enforceable union contract is what stands between workers and politically motivated managers and political appointees.”Public sector unions warn that a bill passed by the House would strip away civil service protections and union rights and the Senate is about to consider similar legislation.“Under the legislation being considered,” Cox said, “nurses, housekeepers, and cemetery workers at the VA could be fired with the same ease that President Trump fired Mr. Comey. The case against them can be as weak and ‘trumped up’ as the reasons cited in the president’s termination notice to Mr. Comey.”Cox said that “We must stand up to those who would undermine due process, objectivity, and fairness in the administration of our government.”

On today's labor calendar,Today’s free noontime film “Sista In The Brotherhood” explores race and gender in a male-dominated industry through the journey of a young black tradeswoman who faces discrimination on a new job site and must choose between making a stand or keeping her job. “Sista In The Brotherhood” screens free at noon at the AFL-CIO as part of the DC LaborFest.Tonight at 7:30, join Pete Rafle, Bob Carr and Bob Hatfield for “There Is Power In A Union: A Labor Songs Vespers” at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax in Oakton, Virginia.And there’s still time to get tickets for tomorrow’s Labor Night at DC United at RFK Stadium; tailgate party starts at 5 and the game kicks off at 7.Complete details, as always, at dclabor.org, click on Calendar.

Here’s today's labor history:On this date in 2008, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided the Agriprocessors slaughterhouse and meat packing plant in Postville, Iowa, arresting nearly 400 immigrant workers. Some 300 were convicted on document fraud charges. The raid was the largest ever until that date. Several employees and lower and mid-level managers were convicted on various charges, but not the owner—although he later was jailed for bank fraud and related crimes.

Today’s labor quote is by Heywood BrounJournalist, columnist and first president of the American Newspaper Guild Heywood Broun, who said“All there is said for work as opposed to dancing is that it’s so much easier.”

Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus, which is committed to improving the quality of life for all working families; find out more at unionplus.org.

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UC Radio airs weekdays at 7:15a on WPFW 89.3 FMYour Rights at Work airs Thursdays from 1-2pSubscribe to the Your Rights at Work podcast on iTunes or just click on "Subscribe" above! And you can also get the Union City Radio podcast on Soundcloud.

UC Radio is a brief audio version of the award-winning Union City electronic newsletter, featuring DC-area labor news, updates, calendar and labor history with Union City Managing Editor Chris Garlock. UC Radio is a partnership between the Metro Washington Council and 89.3 FM WPFW. Today in Labor History is provided by Union Communication Services; Rockin’ Solidarity is performed by Joe Uehlein and the Bones of Contention; Union City Radio engineering by David Kelly.

Your Rights at Work is a call-in show about worker rights hosted by Chris Garlock, co-hosted by DCNA Executive Director Ed Smith. Produced by Peter Pocock.